CCTV link-up bid for councils

Gareth Vickers

Two Fylde coast councils could join forces under ambitious plans to ensure CCTV across a huge swathe of the area is fully monitored at all times.

Fylde Council has revealed it is to investigate establishing a five-year agreement with Wyre Council to guarantee CCTV is monitored in the borough.

Councillor Cheryl Little, supporter of new ASB act.

The council has nine CCTV cameras in St Annes and Kirkham which had been monitored in partnership with Blackpool Council.

But after an agreement with Blackpool Council Security Services ended in September, Fylde Council has revealed it is now looking to set up a new agreement with Wyre Council, at a total annual cost of £52,000 per year, which would see the cameras monitored 24 hours a day.

Coun Cheryl Little, Fylde Council’s cabinet member for social wellbeing, said the agreement would help to prevent crime, following several bank and jewellery raids in the borough in recent years.

She added: “Wyre Council has an excellent monitoring system where it relies on volunteers.

“The plan is to get volunteers from Fylde to help, too, as we feel local knowledge would be key.

“We already work on various projects with Wyre, including health and wellbeing,

“I think it will be a really positive step forward. Monitoring the cameras is crucial, as it allows the police to react to incidents far quicker.”

The proposals will be discussed at a scrutiny committee meeting on November 6.

If agreed to by Fylde Council, the contract could start on December 1 and continue until November 2019.

A spokesman for Fylde Council confirmed if successful, the agreement could be rolled out in Lytham.

Wyre Council declined to comment on the proposals.

The issue of 24-hour a day CCTV monitoring has sparked debate in Blackpool after it was scrapped as part of budget cuts last year.

There has since been a call to see it reinstated following a number of incidents in the town centre, including late night assaults.

Several landlords in the town are among those who have joined the calls, as well as victims of crime and other business owners.